transform Because every house can be a beautiful home
weekend decorator Three ways to bring a floral flourish to your festive season decorating PRODUCED BY Heidi Albertiri Photography Natalie Hunfalvay
Project:
Christmas wreath For instructions, see page 171
transform {easy projects} Thonet 'No 18' replica timber chair in White, $195, Matt Blatt. On table, on plate: Brass bell, $25, White Home. Craft ribbon in Plaid, $1.99/120cm roll, Spotlight. Deer antler, $175/medium, ‘Chapel’ candle in White, $30/small, both The Design Hunter. Under table: Cracker in Brown, $10, ball in White, $15, both Papier d’Amour. ‘Belle 400 St Anthony' wire pendant light in White, $395/small, The Design Hunter. Other accessories, all stylist’s own.
Project:
Floral centrepiece
For instructions, see opposite
170 {decemBER 2013} homebeautiful.com.au
Floral wire in Green, $6, jute twine in Natural, $19.99/140m roll, both Spotlight. 'Crest' iron scissors in Black, $9.95, Country Road. Stockists, page 238
WAT CH Project:Floral centrepiece
Want to see more? Use the app to scan this page and see a video of HB stylist Heidi creating this Christmas wreath. Turn to page 16 for more details.
You will need: 7-10 ceramic and glass vessels; we used a selection of second-hand finds 3-4 bunches of flowers and foliage; we used garden roses, viburnum, olive foliage and tea-tree foliage Floral scissors or secateurs
In video heidi wears 'cottage top' by gorman, gormanshop.com.au
Method:
1. Fill vases 1⁄3 full with water and set aside. On a worktop, set out flowers and foliage in individual bunches. 2. Remove leaves from the base of each flower and foliage stem (about 1⁄3 of their length) to ensure only clean stems go into the vase water; this helps them to last longer. Trim with scissors approximately 1-2cm from the bottom of each stem, cutting on an angle. 3. Sort flowers into arrangements on your worktop. Use a mix of flower types for half of the arrangements and one type for the others. The size of each vase will warrant the amount of flowers used for its bunch. 4. Pick up flowers by the stems, one bunch at a time, and place in a vase. Leave a small space between each flower so the vase looks full but not overloaded. Vary the height of each arrangement and add sprigs of foliage to a few of the vases. 5. Scatter vases down the centre of your Christmas table. Tip: Use vases which are low in height so they don't obstruct the view across the table. Place candles and fairy lights in between the vases to add some Christmas sparkle.
Fresh sprigs of rosemary, thyme or other green herbs can be woven into this wreat h for a fragrant touch Project:Christmas wreath You will need: Floral wire and scissors; we found ours at Spotlight 4 stems of pine foliage Twine ½ bunch tea-tree foliage ¼ bunch olive leaf foliage 1 bunch gumnuts or seeds Decorative ribbon; we used 'Birch Swiss’ 9mm velvet ribbon in Silvery Grey, Spotlight Method:
1. Cut 10 x 10cm strips of wire. Bend each piece into a 'U' shape and set aside. 2. Take two pieces of pine and use twine to tie the stem of one piece underneath the tip of the other piece. The leaves should be on top and the stem hidden, forming one long straight piece of pine. Repeat this step with two more pieces of pine.
3. Use twine to tie the stems of the two pine pieces together, with the tips facing outwards, to form one long piece. The leaves should overlap the twine tie to hide the stems. Bring the ends of the pine piece together to form a circle and tie with twine. 4. To reinforce the wreath, wrap a piece of wire around any pine pieces that are sticking out. Twist the ends of the wire (like a bread tie) to hold them in place. 5. Remove 3cm of foliage from the base of each tea-tree stem, and insert stems at even intervals around the wreath. Twist wire around the pine and tea-tree to hold them together where necessary. Repeat with olive leaf. 6. Trim gumnut stems to approximately 5cm, and insert into wreath at even intervals, stems first. Reinforce with wire if necessary. Tie a bow at the bottom of the wreath with ribbon. 7. Hang the wreath on your door. >
homebeautiful.com.au {DECEMBER 2013} 171
'Mandala' framed artwork in Mint, 450/72cm x 53.5cm, Papier d'Amour. Bells, stylist's own, for similar try Dear September Copper & glass vase, $45, White Home. 'Cotton Heading Tape' ribbon, $1.79/roll, Spotlight. Crate, stylist's own, for similar try Doug Up On Bourke. Stockists, page 238
Project:
Flowers for the hostess
For instructions, see opposite
Hydrangeas are in bloom throughout December and are a beautiful alternative to viburnum Project:Flowers for the hostess You will need: 2 bunches viburnum or hydrangea; we used viburnum 3 sprigs tea-tree foliage 1 bunch garden roses Twine 1 large piece newspaper Decorative ribbon and gift tag Method:
1. On a worktop, set out flowers and foliage in individual bunches. Remove leaves from the base of each flower and foliage stem (about 1â „3 of their length). 2. Pick up tea-tree by the stems and hold in one hand. Pick up one bunch of viburnum with other hand and place on top of tea-tree, with the tips of the viburnum 1â „3 of the way down from the tips of the tea-tree. Pick up roses and add to the arrangement, placing the tips of the roses at the bottom of the viburnum heads (see above left). Hold the arrangement in one hand; if it's too hard to hold, rest the flowers gently on your worktop, but keep your grip on the stems.
3. Pick up the second bunch of viburnum and place in front of the roses, with the tips of the viburnum approximately 2-3cm lower than the rose heads. 4. Rest the back of the bouquet against the worktop. Wrap twine around the stems a few times, pulling tight without squashing the stems. Tie twine into a knot. 5. Spread newspaper flat on the worktop and place the back of the bouquet on a diagonal on top. Fold each side of the paper over the stems and lower third of the arrangement so the paper overlaps (do not wrap paper too tightly or it will damage the flowers). Tie a length of ribbon around the paper at the base of the bouquet and affix a gift card. Note: When we photographed our arrangement, viburnum was in season but in December, hydrangeas will be in plentiful supply and look equally gorgeous. Tip: Supplement your arrangement with herbs or trimmings from your garden, if desired. You could also substitute newspaper with wrapping or butcher's paper.